Living in Woodstock, IL

NEW Living in Woodstock, IL Site

2009-03-25T18:38:00.002-05:00

I've changed site locations, and hope to start posting more regularly. Tell your friends & yell it from the rooftops: There's an all new Living in Woodstock, Illinois blog. :)

New Woodstock Cafe: Java Planet

2009-02-05T11:28:00.008-06:00

I've encountered a wonderful new café in Woodstock. It's Java Planet, located in the Lake Shore Business Park on Route 14 between Menards and the hospital. I first heard about it a couple of weeks ago. I was reminded as Wednesday's Woodstock Independent had a nice article on Java Planet. So I'm here to try it out.

First thing I noticed is the very attractive café. Beautiful. Tans, browns and blacks. Bigger tables are square and smaller are rectangular. Wooden chairs are comfortable. The café area is bifurcated by a large glass breezeway. On the side where the coffee is made there are five tables. Right now a couple of moms are sitting and talking and what looks like a McHenry County College student sits working on his laptop.

On the other side, where I'm sitting, are four attractive dark brown leather soft chairs. They are paired on either side of me. I'm along the window at a smaller table. Plenty of room on the sturdy table for my stuff. A good workstation. A nice ledge along the window is table height, and adds to my workspace. I should also add that some solid "free jazz" is playing at just the right volume level.

I'm drinking a mocha, which is my typical coffee shop drink. The price is comparable to something like Starbucks. And it's delicious. Java Planet has their roasting done at Conscious Cup coffee shop in Crystal Lake, and my mocha tastes like the one I've gotten at CC. I've been to a number of cool little cafés that had crappy coffee. My first drink tells me this isn't one of them. They also have their roasts available for sale whole bean, which I will be trying very soon with my french press at home.

They boast very fast and free internet. I don't know if it's as fast as they boast since I don't really know how to measure that. But I will say it's very fast. Seems faster than my home connection, which is also pretty fast. And it's easy. Didn't need some code or special info. Just found and added the connection and BOOM!, I'm online.

My wife and our son, Daniel, is now here because I begged her on the phone to come check it out. She is very impressed. They were here so long that I'm now drinking Mexican Chiapas roast . The girl behind the counter called it "amazing." I have to agree.

Get out and try Java Planet. Bring your friends. Perfect for anytime you are near 14, doing some shopping, going to or from McHenry County College, or just need a great cup of coffee. Because of the space it could be ideal for larger groups. They also have open mic events on the 2nd Saturday of each month. I'll be checking one of those out soon.

Chicago, GQ City of the Year

2008-12-04T18:39:00.002-06:00

No surprise, the wonderful city of Chicago has been chosen as GQ's City of the Year. GQ explains their reasons in four categories: 1. Politics, 2. Film, 3. Literature, and 4. Architecture.

A NY'r on Chicago Hot Dogs

2008-09-17T19:50:00.006-05:00

As we all know, Chicago has a real complex about its hot dogs. They are famously served one way, and anything else isn't acceptable. I like that about Chicago. One New York writer compares/contrasts them to New York hot dogs and recommends his favorite Chicago hot dog stands.

O'Learys O'Thankful

2008-08-28T15:10:00.004-05:00

I am very excited to have an Irish pub in Woodstock. I went with a leader of my church to O'Learys last night after reading about the new pub in the Woodstock Independent. I had seen the signage but never stopped by. We sat at a table in the bar section, sipped very cold Guinness and discussed some transitional changes at our church. Gretchen, the bartender, was very friendly and fun. Next time through I'm going to meet the owner.

I didn't have any food but they seem to have sandwiches and wraps. I've only seen the menu online and I assume that it's correct. It was quite busy for a normal weeknight, so word must be getting out! Go and check out O'Learys where Harvest Moon used to be (the southeast corner of the Square).

Holy Gelato Batman!

2008-08-26T22:10:00.002-05:00

It's been too long, friends, but the opening of Bella's has demanded a post. Bella's, where Tip Top Bistro used to be on the Square, is full of good stuff: coffee, espresso drinks, smoothies, sorbeto, gelato and more. I've had it twice in two days and have sampled about 12 flavors of gelato or sorbeto now. Just delicious. They also have a few flavors made with Splenda which are also delicious. Add to the goodness the ownership of Terry Pirro and a beautiful cafe seating area including tables & chairs, couches and soft chairs, outdoor seating, free wifi, and soft music and you have the makings of something to be proud of.

Holy cow, I love Bella's already. Try it for yourselves.

Good Stuff this Spring

2008-06-04T15:32:00.002-05:00

I hope you are enjoying your beautiful Chicagoland spring. The only thing that could make it more beautiful is some more thunder and lightning (yeah, I'm one of those weather lovers). A few quick notes.

We really enjoyed Fair Diddley a few weeks back. My favorite score was some wasabi dip. Wowwy. Good stuff.

It's been a busy sports spring for my family. Two kids in soccer, one in Little League (I'm also a coach) and we are less than two weeks away from T-ball (where I'm also a coach).

Very good news for Chicago: We are a finalist for the 2016 Olympics. Seems far away, but it's not really. C'mon Chicago!

The Greatness That Is Chicago

2008-05-19T22:45:00.002-05:00

Chicago has been named by Fast Company magazine as the U.S. city of the year. It's so great that we've beaten the entire nation for the highest gas prices. :)

Woodstock Starbucks

2008-04-10T10:50:00.002-05:00

I like coffee shops. I like all sorts of coffee shops. I like their atmosphere and I like to sit and work on my laptop, or write in my notebook, or read a book. Our local Starbucks is a good place to hang out, have meetings, or just sit and do my work.

Starbucks have now added Pike Place blend as their main roast, available every day. Typically you would go in and find out what coffee they are roasting. Sometimes I didn't want a bold roast, so I would get an espresso drink. But Pike Place has added a level of consistency to your coffee shop experience.

Right now I believe they are giving Pike Place coffee away for free in the small size in order to introduce you to it. Hop on in and give it a try. I've had a few cups now, and it's probably my favorite Starbucks blend. If you aren't a fan of Starbucks coffee, this blend may just change your mind.

More Woodstock Artists

2008-04-04T10:37:00.002-05:00

Step by step I'm getting to know other artists in Woodstock. While I met Paul Justen long ago, we had a good talk this week and he let me know about his website. Some great sketch work. Check it out.

Gallery in the Garden

2008-03-31T14:25:00.003-05:00

I don't know how I missed this, but Gallery in the Garden looks like a very nice event, and another reason to love our city.

America's Favorite Cities

2008-03-08T17:31:00.004-06:00

If you want to see how Chicago ranked in the voting for America's Favorite City, there are listings in dozens of categories. We are #1 in food/dining and pizza, skyline/views, sports fan's vacation, secretly fun business trips, and more. We are ranked last (#25) in weather. Shocking. Ah, the joys of being connected to wonderful Chicago.

Reverse Commuters

2008-02-21T12:15:00.002-06:00

Neat article in the Northwest Herald about those who live in Chicago and commute to McHenry County.

From the article ending...

By the numbers

20 - Percentage of people who worked in McHenry County in 2004 who lived in other counties.

13 - Miles that the average person who works in McHenry County commuted in 2004.

21 - Minutes of commute time for the average person who worked in McHenry County in 2004.

7 - Percentage of people who worked in McHenry County in 2004 who traveled more than 30 miles to get to work.

Source: 2004 McHenry County Employee Survey Results and Analysis

Groundhog Day Video

2008-02-04T12:46:00.000-06:00

Groundhog Day

2008-01-31T13:01:00.000-06:00

The Northwest Herald has a nice video with Woodstock Chamber's Quinn Keefe detailing the scenes of the Groundhog Day movie with a tour around Woodstock. Check it out.

Beautiful Winter in Woodstock

2007-12-09T21:35:00.000-06:00

I love snowfall in Woodstock. Not only because we can go sledding or feel like making hot cocoa, but because it's draws out the flavor our our downtown Square. It's a beautiful place any day, but it's more beautiful in the snow. I was walking on the Square and everyone I passed, as the snow was getting deeper, couldn't help but strike up a conversation. Mostly, they talked about the snow with a smile on their face. A few photos...

Christmas, Lights & Community

2007-11-26T00:54:00.000-06:00

After a quick jaunt to my Dad's house for Thanksgiving we were sure to make it home for the Lighting of the Square. It's a fun yearly event, if you didn't make it, and always worth the effort. We got to hear the Woodstock community choir sing a bit, then a few important people told us to shop local before a big fake (it's meant to look fake) switch is thrown and the lights are ignited on the buildings and trees around the Square. It's a fun moment and always a pretty holiday sight. And then all who have made pilgrimage join together in song for a few Christmas carols.

It was a joy to sing with neighbors and visitors to Woodstock. It was fun to let my ever aging kids experience this event yet again. It was fun to kick off what will surely be a blur of a Christmas season. Woodstock is a great place to be.

Date Night

2007-11-10T01:59:00.000-06:00

I never apologize to my kids for taking "date nights" with my wife. I can think of few things that are as important for my kids than to know that I'm so love my wife that I can't wait to find time alone with her and away from them. Don't get me wrong. My kids know I love to spend time with them. But the continuing cultivation of my marriage makes me a better husband and therefore a better father. I had time alone with Molly tonight in Woodstock, and it was wonderful.

First we went to Pirro's, a favorite restaurant of ours in Woodstock or anywhere. I usually get some sort of pasta and last night I got lasagna for the first time. I tasted my wife's lasagna from Pirro's last time around and it was delicious. This time I ate the whole thing. Wow. Molly got a chicken sandwich on foccacia. She loved it and was raving halfway through. If you haven't made Pirro's a place to eat or meet, you should. I'm sure I'll brag on them again.

We watched Dan in Real Life at the Woodstock Theater (Classic Cinemas) and enjoyed it. It's getting some decent reviews and it should. Might be a nice date movie with your spouse.

Starbucks received some after-dinner business from us. A peppermint white chocolate for Molly while I enjoyed my typical "grande-skim-3-pump-extra-hot-no-whip-mocha." And, by the way, Starbucks is in full holiday swing including the incomparable "Cranberry Bliss Bar." Holy cow. Christmas is so important for my very rare dessert passions, and Starbucks is a big part of that. Try it...trust me.

We don't always "date" in Woodstock, but we are always glad when we do. A great place to continue to love my wife...and my city.

A Few Tidbits

2007-10-28T16:14:00.000-05:00

You probably didn't know we were gone, but we got back from Disney World last Tuesday. It's nice to live in a city like Woodstock with small town feel and growing suburban conveniences while being only an hour from a large international airport like O'Hare that can take us to Disney World or wherever else we may desire to go.

If you haven't read it yet, you should read Woodstock's Vision 2020 and see where the city is planning to go. And while at the Woodstock city site you should make sure you don't miss the Future Residential Development map of Woodstock. Lot's of changes coming, well, if the housing market holds up to the plans.

The fall WAYSO soccer season is over. We loved the season, but need the break. I'm sure soon enough we will be looking forward to more soccer in the spring.

Woodstock + Soccer = Fun

2007-10-09T21:28:00.000-05:00

Our three youngest, our boys, are all playing soccer this year for the first time with WAYSO. It's been a hoot. Jack (8) is having the hardest time of the three because he's the oldest and knows the least about the sport since it's his first time. But he's still having a great time. Elijah (6) is a natural athlete, though small for his age. He already has two goals this year and hasn't really played offense all that much. Daniel (4) is in the part of WAYSO where you just kick and run and laugh and then quickly forget you were playing soccer in the first place. But he loves it.

We really enjoy seeing the parents at all the games, meeting new folks, laughing when funny stuff happens on the field, and cheering when someone makes a goal. It's an enjoyable time to be a parent in Woodstock.

My Photos in Starbucks

2007-10-01T18:29:00.000-05:00

Hey Woodstockians. My photography is up at Starbucks on the Square for the month of October. Very cool. I just put it up tonight and I like the way it looks. Six of my photos. Go check them out on the wall behind where you check out.

Woodstock Restaurants in the News

2007-09-05T12:59:00.000-05:00

The Tribune has featured two of Woodstock's best restaurants recently, Pirro's and La Petite Creperie. Pirro's is my favorite place to eat in Woodstock. We haven't been to La Petite Creperie yet, through I have sat in the outdoor area late one evening when I walked by and was invited by a friend to sit and talk for a bit. I met the face of the Creperie, Frank (pronounced the French way, the Father of the Bride way), who was very hospitable, friendly and generous as I sat and talked with some Woodstock folks. A nice experience.

Get out and enjoy some of the best of our city restaurants.

Woodstock in the Trib

2007-09-05T12:54:00.000-05:00

If you missed it, here's a Chicago Tribune Magazine article on Woodstock, "The More Things Change..."

Whatta Summer

2007-09-03T19:56:00.001-05:00

It's been one amazing summer...and now it's over. At least in the my-kids-are-going-back-to-school-tomorrow sense. We tried to finish with a bang by taking a train trip into the city with our kiddos.

We went Thursday morning, made it to the top of the John Hancock Center, spent some time in Millennium Park, then greatly enjoyed two hours at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The view from the Hancock is really wonderful, and it was extra good on a sparkling blue sky day. We saw the Sears Tower (obviously), Wrigley Field, The United Center, Lincoln Park, Soldier Field, and all the way across Lake Michigan. Great experience.

Millennium Park was great, like always. The kids splashed around, we took 'bean' photos, and we just chilled and enjoyed the afternoon.

This was our first visit to the Art Institute of Chicago and it won't be our last. We were very impressed. Well, except for the mean lady who was profiling my kids as deviants and expecting them to do something awful. The rest of it was great! I don't know how much we saw, but it really wasn't much. I can't wait to go back again and spend a lot more time absorbing the mountains of beauty within. If you haven't been...then go.

Then we made the 8:30pm train back and crashed. I just love being so near Chicago and all it offers. It's a great, great city, full of life and energy. I'm glad Woodstock gets to be a part of the great city.

Full Summer

2007-08-09T12:48:00.000-05:00

Whoa, this has been a full, busy, crazy summer.

As you know if you read this blog, my wife was diagnosed this summer with Chiari I Malformation, a brain/skull/spine malformation that one is born with. She was having awful symptoms and at times could barely walk before the surgery. Now she is back to normal. The only issues she faces are with the surgery and recovery, not the original symptoms. All her original symptoms are gone. What an unbelievable experience over the last 3 months. We feel so blessed.

My middle son, Elijah, played baseball this summer and loved it as usual. He's the athlete of all the kids. I coached again this year, and I was the pitcher. It was Bittie Ball, so the coach pitches to the kids at this level. I really appreciate Woodstock's effort to put together a great youth baseball program. Our other kids were enrolled in Woodstock summer events, but all had to be cancelled because they conflicted with Molly's surgery. Too bad, but totally worth the sacrifice.

Our typical weekly fun happens at the Woodstock Water Works park. With season passes we not only go as we like, but we were also able to attend the late-night event for season pass holders. That was a lot of fun. How many cities our size have a great place to play like WWW? Not enough, I would say.

We've also spent time at the local Classic Cinemas theater in Woodstock for Harry Potter and Ratatouille, enjoyed the Dick Tracy Days parade, and other fun stuff in downtown Woodstock. And I don't want to fail to mention we enjoyed our first 4th of July in Woodstock. Usually we are in my hometown with family, but we were in town this year. Loved the whole experience at Emricson Park.

We just hit Six Flags this Monday. It was a hot but great day at the park. Since my wife can't ride anything jarring, it was up to me to man-up and show my ability to ride most of the rides with the kids. Unfortunately I had a stomach bug and felt like hurling all day. Didn't hurl though. Nice. Love being less than an hour from a great theme park.

Like most of you, our best fun summer experiences happen right around our house. Our kids have played catch, baseball, tag, races, ridden their bikes or scooters or skateboards, have found bugs and dead things and chased cicadas, played with friends and neighbors, and we all have done a million other things just by being home. It has really been a great summer, all things considered.

Post-Surgery Life

2007-07-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

After my wife was diagnosed with a congenital malformation in her head requiring brain surgery, I decided to push this blog aside for a bit. But I hope to get back into the swing of things again and I have a handful of posts about our fair city on the way.

And for your information, Molly did well in the surgery (on Friday, July 13th) and is recovering nicely. Very happy to see her doing better and slowly re-entering the normal stuff of life here in Woodstock.

Chicago Healthcare

2007-06-10T01:09:00.000-05:00

There is rarely a time I'm not thankful that I live in the Chicagoland area. We have access to art, culture, music, poetry, and a myriad of things my kids love and appreciate.

Today I'm most thankful that we live near the University of Chicago and their neurosurgery department. My wife has been recently diagnosed with Chiari 1 Malformation (more info here, here, here and here). Her symptoms are pretty bad and getting worse: numbness in her limbs, nausea, weakness, balance issues, and more. That means she is approaching brain surgery.

We are pretty freaked out by all this, as you can imagine, but we are trusting that God will take care of her. She is getting a neurosurgery consultation in 8 days and will likely (we hope) have surgery by the end of June. It seems that surgery will bring good results. We are very hopeful.

Memorial Day 2007

2007-05-28T19:52:00.000-05:00

Forgive my absence, but I was out of town for a bit. Glad to be back and enjoying our fair city with my family. Memorial Day is one of those weird holidays where people are having parties and yet we are remembering those who died in service of our country. I suppose one of the best ways we can honor those who died is to exercise our freedom.

Today our family both remembered the fallen and celebrated our freedom on the Woodstock Square. We arrived at 10am for the hour long ceremony (the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, a speech, recognizing some veterans, etc). Then at 11am the parade began. Not a parade really, but a dispersal of great candy that my awesome kids share with their daddy.

Here are some photos from a beautiful Memorial Day in Woodstock. More can be found on my Flickr page.

Fishing at Emricson

2007-05-18T17:34:00.000-05:00

My son's (Jack) second grade class went fishing at Emricson Park today, and I got to tag along. I nabbed 7 of the smallest bluegill in creation. Jack pulled in 2. Steve Ryan, the PE teacher, is a great guy and we had a good time talking before the kids showed up on the bus. I love being involved with my kids and school as much as I can. And Woodstock schools are worth our involvement.

New, Improved Farmer's Market

2007-05-12T12:43:00.000-05:00

I had a few minutes to check out the new and improved Farmer's Market on the Square today. I was very impressed. Rather than taking up a 1/2 block segment on the outside of the Square it took up 1/2 of the park-side parking on the Square. And there isn't any seasonal produce yet! Could be a great summer to enjoy the Farmer's Market and make it a regular part of your shopping. Hey, it's obviously really good, fresh stuff.

I also encourage you to use this opportunity buy local. One of the things I try to do, albeit imperfectly, is support local businesses and small town businesses. It's not easy. It's not always as cheap as "the big guys." I get it. But these are folks who are working hard to bring you fresh stuff. When you support them you support all of us. Think about it at least. :)

One of the delightful new aspects of the Farmer's Market today was the presence of a group of five musicians playing some beautiful, instrumental music on the Square. Really enjoyed them playing, and I grabbed a few photos. See them all on the Woodstock, IL Flickr group (or my Flickr page). Here's a selection...

Ugly Duckings?

2007-05-11T00:45:00.000-05:00

I can't think of how a duckling can be considered ugly after seeing a couple follow some kids home from school a few days ago. Our neighbor kids and our kids were outside wondering where Mamma duck has gone and why she left these two behind. They are cute as a button and after they stayed the night in our backyard a nice lady came and picked the up and took them to her farm to live. Good luck little duckies!

Jumping Jenapeas!

2007-05-09T21:08:00.000-05:00

I had my first experience of Jenapeas Sandwich Shop on the Square in Woodstock today. My wife has been there recently and loved the sandwich/soup she got. So when a friend who often checks out the regular live music there wanted to meet, Jenapeas it was. The skim mocha was really great. Reminded me of one of my favorite mochas from a place in Kentucky. The workers were very friendly. I felt at home.

And for a fairly new place they had a steady flow of traffic for food and drinks during the couple of hours I spent there. Great outdoor tables and chairs as well. We made good use on a warm spring day. Great to have another "third place" in Woodstock. Should have taken a photo for you, but if you just head to the square and pass the Opera House you will find it.

Popcorn and a Soda

2007-05-04T11:26:00.000-05:00

The summer months will heat up and provide us plenty of opportunities to catch a movie (with popcorn and a Coke) at the Classic Cinemas Woodstock Theater. This afternoon I'm taking my 8 year old, Jack, to see Spider-Man.

Jack is a Spider-Man freak. He has Spider-Man outfits, action figures, the previous movies on DVD, and is in the process of memorizing the new theme song. So I figured some $4 matinée tickets were worth their weight in gold for some opening day Spider-Man magic. And it makes for a great Dad's day out with my boy.

Woodstock News

2007-04-25T19:17:00.000-05:00

I noticed in my weekly edition of The Woodstock Independent that they now have a new URL and new website design at www.thewoodstockindependent.com. Bookmark it and use it.

Baseball in Spring

2007-04-22T18:40:00.000-05:00

My six year old, Elijah, is a sports nut. He would watch anything sports related on TV if we let him. One of his favorite sports is baseball, so I took him with his younger brother, Daniel, to see the Woodstock High School varsity team play on Friday night. The weather was beautiful and the Blue Streaks won.

It was a fun evening for baseball, but an even more fun evening for hanging with my boys. I hope you are going to take full advantage in the months to come to enjoy your family in our beautiful city.

National Poetry Month & Billy Collins

2007-04-19T20:13:00.000-05:00

It's not everyday a world renowned poet, a former U.S. Poet Laureate, and the author of the poem you read at your Mom's funeral comes to your hometown. So I just had to go see Billy Collins (via poets.org, bigsnap.com, bestcigarette.us) when he came to Woodstock today.

We didn't know he was coming until a few days after Mom's funeral. So I immediately contacted the Woodstock Opera House for tickets and learned they were sold out. That was disappointing. But I talked to a friend and Opera House employee about it and he called the next day with the news that some tickets opened up. We picked up two.

This morning we dropped off the two youngest at a friend's house and went to see Billy Collins. He read poems for about an hour: a sonnet or two, a handful of haiku, and the rest his typical, informal-style poetry. He was funny, thoughtful, and engaging. The crowd clapped and laughed, and even gasped at insightful lines. It was brilliant, just brilliant. I think if anyone who doesn't like poetry will go hear Billy Collins read his stuff will end up appreciating it.

I have three of his books and wanted them signed, so I got in line and met Billy Collins. I told him I read "The Lanyard" at my Mom's funeral. And guess what? A woman sitting with him helping him with the signing knew of this blog and had already mentioned it to Billy. Pretty cool, eh? He was very personable and showed real concern after I mentioned my Mom. He asked how well I got through the poem, you know, without crying. I told him I did fine. So then he signed my three books, including just above "The Lanyard" poem, and then we posed for a photo (via my hot wife). He said the photo would probably end up on the blog. He was right.

I think Billy Collins has become my favorite living poet. Watch his animated poetry (a very cool idea), buy his books at Read Between the Lynes, listen to his live readings, or attend a live reading. Here's a big archive of Billy reading poems. I think you may just learn to love poetry, or love it even more.

Chicago Olympics 2016?

2007-04-14T16:45:00.000-05:00

USOC has picked Chicago to bid for the 2016 Olympics. We won't know if Chicago wins until 2009.

Going to See/Hear Billy Collins

2007-04-14T13:28:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my friend Josh who works at the Woodstock Opera House and Read Between the Lynes, I found out that a handful of tickets had opened up for the Billy Collins poetry reading coming on April 19th. So my wife and I are going this Thursday morning to hear a great poet.

This is another great thing about Woodstock. Some people in Woodstock don't like the small town feel. I'm a bit like that because I really enjoy larger cities. But how many cities like Woodstock get a guy like Billy Collins to show up? And how many would come close to selling out an event like this? It's a great thing, and I'm excited to be able to go.

I'm also impressed that we have such a good independent bookstore in Woodstock. My wife and I spent a little time last night talking to Arlene Lynes about the poetry reading, all the Billy Collins books they have for the event, etc. I'm glad to get to know her a bit and I took advantage of the opportunity to grab a couple more Billy Collins books with my 10% member discount. If you don't use our local bookstore you are missing out.

Mom, The Lanyard, and Lightning

2007-04-10T14:47:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted much lately, but my Mom died and our family has been out of town for several days. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago and thought she beat it the first time around. It was still there and spread throughout her body. She was diagnosed as terminal with 6-24 months to live. That was 6 months ago. It's been a rough week, and I'll miss her a lot.

At Mom's funeral I read a poem I found a few months ago called "The Lanyard" by Billy Collins. It's a beautiful poem. After returning to Woodstock on Sunday we got our mail from our neighbor and noticed that Billy Collins would be in Woodstock at the Opera House on April 19th. Of course I ran downtown Monday for tickets only to find out it's sold out. If anyone has 1-2 tickets they can't use, I would like to purchase them from you!

We left town last Tuesday to be with Mom. I was up late Monday night (actually to 4am Tuesday morning) taking pictures of the thunderstorms that came through Woodstock. I holed up at the Mary Endres Middle School doorway and captured a few lighting shots. Here are a few, the rest can be seen on my Flickr page. Click the photos for a larger view.

Night Pictures in Spring

2007-03-31T13:38:00.000-05:00

As a photographer I enjoy foggy days and nights. It makes for interesting views. On a recent foggy night I took to the Square with my camera and tripod. I wish the fog were thicker, but it was still a beautiful night. Here are a few photos of our great downtown (click for larger image)...

View all of my Woodstock photos.

Woodstock: A "Great Place"

2007-03-22T17:38:00.000-05:00

The American Institute of Architects has listed Woodstock as one of the 150 Illinois Great Places. Yet another reason why we shouldn't take our city for granted.

If you live here, when was the last time you just enjoyed what you have here? It is a great place.

(via)

Oh, It's Springtime!

2007-03-21T16:18:00.000-05:00

Wish I had some new pictures of Springtime, but as you know if you live in Woodstock it's not really photography weather. Lot's of rain, thunder, lightning and warm Spring winds. Here's a photo of some lightning from last year. Hopefully I can add to my lightning photos this Spring.

Family Van

2007-03-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

Very brief story. Our local mechanic is great. It's Ernie (JoAnn) and the guys over at Meineke on 47. We've been driving very old, struggling vehicles for some time and they have kept us running. That time ended several weeks ago as both cars in a three day span were diagnosed with very serious problems that weren't worth fixing for the cost. My income as a pastor didn't leave room for a car payment so we were stuck.

Some friends, both local and over the internet, heard about my problem and made it public on their websites and in our local church. Within a few weeks we were given near $12,000 for a new (used) van. We have four kids, it has to be a van!

We started looking at pretty much any van on the market and didn't find anything our mechanic would approve. So he made us a list of the vans they thought were the best. #1 was the Honda Odyssey. We found the closest dealer is in Crystal Lake (Brilliance Honda) and found a great used van there. Our mechanic checked it before we bought it and said it was one of the best used cars, in the best condition, that they have ever checked. We paid cash.

Have you ever been in such need and someone (or many people) came to your rescue? We have a great used van today that is safe for our family because of the generosity and love of our church and Christians around the world who wanted to help this pastor out. It's a beautiful thing.

So for fun, I made this video that would introduce our new van to the world. Enjoy!

Longing for Summer

2007-03-10T21:17:00.000-06:00

The 40 degree temps today led us to venture out for some ice cream at Cobblestones. I had Moose Tracks, Molly had Strawberry, and the kids went for lemon sorbet, rainbow sorbet, mint chocolate chip, and oreo cookie. Man, good stuff. Also grabbed up some Zots and Sweetarts. Yeah, the candy was my idea. Haven't seen Zots for years, and they are still sour/fizzy delicious.

They also had a horse and carriage on the Square today. No question, the town has been abuzz with Spring Fever.

Woodstock: Dozen Distinctive Destinations 2007

2007-03-08T12:48:00.000-06:00

Woodstock has been named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2007. (via)

Where's Spring?

2007-03-06T12:37:00.000-06:00

It's been too long since my last post. Life has been crazy. But rather than making excuses I'll just start up again. Several new things have happened since last fall.

The most important thing that has happened in Woodstock in months is the revelation that Woodstock Willie lied to us on Groundhog Day and said Spring was on the way. He was wrong, W-R-O-N-G. :) It's been a terrible February with bitter cold temps, lots of snow, and a refusal for a full thaw. There may be some rising temps at the end of this week. Cross your fingers!

In other news...

Wal-Mart has opened up in Woodstock. I was there on opening day and it was, well, Wal-Mart. I was surprised at how big it was. I mean, I've been in the huge Super Wal-Mart's before but never one with benches in open areas around the store.

Jenapeas has opened up on the Square with sandwiches, coffee, and more. I haven't been there yet but my wife has and had nothing but good stuff to say.

The Jailhouse Restaurant on the square is gone and replacing it is Courthouse Grill. We haven't been there, but eager to try it out. Maybe we'll go on an upcoming "date night."

Woodstock Station, a new brownstone-ish development near the train station, has finished a building. Read more about these homes at The Woodstock Independent.

I've noticed at our local Starbucks they have been hanging stuff from local artists every month. I need to try to get some of my photography up, but haven't made the effort yet.

Coming soon, Office Depot, Aldi, and more.

Getting Back on Track

2006-10-03T21:42:00.000-05:00

So sorry for the long delay between posts. I have been procrastinating updating this blog because I've been thinking a lot about my mom. Mom recently found out she has cancer.

Mom had breast cancer back in 2003, had surgery, chemo and radiation treatment. She thought she beat it. But cancer hung on. She found out four weeks ago that her breast cancer never left. In fact it spread to her liver, lungs, bones and neck lymph nodes. These have been frightening days for my 59 year old mom, for my dad, and for all of our family.

My mom was told the average person lives 2 years with her cancer. And that is if the chemo helps. It might be a few months, and it might be more than a few years. We really don't know.

So on this blog geared on loving our great, small city of Woodstock, I've not had much to say. It's been a rough few weeks. But one of the wonderful "severe mercies" of facing the prospect of death of a loved one is that you stop taking for granted the beauty around you.

I encourage you not to wait for bad times to see the beauty around you. It's there to be enjoyed now, and we have so much to be thankful for.

School Days

2006-08-30T09:29:00.000-05:00

Our kids started up school on Monday with the rest of Woodstock.

Do you get anxious about school starting up? My wife has homeschooled for 2 years so this was a big change for us. No teacher can ever measure up to a mom who loves her kids and teaches them. But so far we are happy with our kids teachers and the school. And our kids are happy too.

Like some of you, we don't like the end of summer. We will miss baseball with the kids, train trips into Chicago, vacations, July 4th, and the warm weather. But there is something to be said for school, schedule, discipline and looking toward fall. Another season is on the way (as we also notice from the low 70's temps this week), and life moves on in our beautiful city.

Proximity

2006-08-11T16:38:00.000-05:00

I may have mentioned this before, and I certainly will mention it again. One of the things I love about Woodstock is our proximity to great stuff. For example, we are a short trip away from the city of Chicago and all it offers. But we also have proximity to outdoorsy stuff. In 15 minutes we can find our way into Wisconsin and the great outdoors.

On Monday I drove to Ace Hardware in Woodstock to buy, for the first time in my life, a fishing license. A Wisconsin fishing license to be exact. Then my buddy Dan brought me, his dad's boat, and some KFC up to Lake Geneva. We got a dozen suckers (that's some big bait) and dropped a few lines in the water looking for Northern Pike.

I came up empty, but Dan pulled in three decent sized Pike. They were too small to keep, but it was still fun.

But the best part of the trip wasn't the fishing. It was time with a good friend on gorgeous summer August night. The temperature was perfect and the sunset was beautiful. It's one of those nights when you remember that recreation is more than passing time. It's re-creation.

Now, if I can just land a fish next time. :)

Swim Lessons

2006-08-03T16:51:00.000-05:00

Our three oldest kids have been in swim practice for two weeks at Woodstock Water Works. This is their third summer involved and they love it. A few observations.

1. Good teachers

One of the teachers who has taught our kids in the past is Garrett. He's a young man who is just as likely to get attacked by an invisible shark as he is to teach the kids how to swim. Garrett isn't one of our kids' teachers this year, but he's still around and still as loud and fun as ever. He's a natural teacher who identifies with his students, and his students love him for it. Our kids have had their share of great teachers.

2. Good students

There are few things as cool as noticing how your kids are maturing. It's a real joy as a parent to see your kid go from a daydreamer to focused, or from a struggler to competent. We are very proud of our kids as improve and grow and learn to stay afloat and actually swim from one place to another.

3. Hotness

Sheesh, what a week to have a heat wave. Trying to sit in the sun for two hours during swim lessons is not as simple as it seems. You have to put sunscreen on your sunscreen and towel off under your shirt. The kids got to stay in the water and cool off, but the parents were sweating it.

Attack of the Killer Raccoons

2006-07-21T11:50:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite ways to relax is to sit out in the backyard late into the night and read something. Lately I've been out there a lot, enjoying the warm summer evenings.

Out of our back door is our yard and then an extension of a grassy (mowed) field between my house and Calvary Baptist Church (where I pastor). So our backyard is like an angled football field along a wooded creek. It's really a wonderful place.

A few nights back I was digesting a good book and I caught something out of the corner of my eye. I looked left and found five raccoons passing about 8 feet from my chair. It freaked me out and I was afraid they were going to head toward me. The last thing I wanted was for them to not realize I was there until they were close enough to bite my ankle.

So I shook my chair to make some noise and get their attention. That freaked THEM out and they took an aggressive posture and started growling. Yeah, their growl sounds pretty mean actually. Teeth glistening in the light peeking through the kitchen blinds, I thought I was about to become raccoon food.

Being close to our back door, I decided to hop inside to get them to chill out. But as I tried to get up they growled louder. So I did what any sane, strong alpha male would do. I ran inside like a scared little girl.

I turned on the backyard flood lamp and saw one grasping a tree, as scared as I was. I thought, I just ran away from a bunch of glorified rats. What a big sissy. So I decided to be a man and grab my camera to catch a picture if possible. I went back out and didn't see them. So I started reading my book again.

Sure enough, they came around the house on the exact same path as before. I let them pass by me and they headed out in the yard in search of food. I snapped a few low-light photographs and made a few raccoon friends.

Now I see them (or hear them) about every third night I'm outside. They still freak me out a bit, but we have learned to co-exist together. ;)

Summer Heat

2006-07-18T23:51:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but the summer heat is getting to me. It was a very hot week last week, and more hot days ahead.

We all do much the same thing, don't we? We complain about the long winters until late July and then complain about the sweat and humidity and heat.

We love to take our kids to the Woodstock Water Works pool. The season passes are very reasonable and the kids think it's the best. Having a local water park is very cool. Next week the kids start swimming lessons.

Last Saturday our oldest boys played baseball in sweltering heat. It was so hot that our son, Elijah, got a bit dehydrated. It reminded me of how quickly fun in the sun can become dangerous.

Enjoy the summer heat, but find some time to cool off too. :)

Knowing Folks

2006-07-10T23:45:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about living in Woodstock is the people. It's a friendly place, and a place full of friends.

Tonight I decided to grab a cup of coffee at Starbucks. As I walked in I noticed the manager, Tanya, sweating the arrival of a huge new three-door refrigerator. So I talked with her for a bit and asked about the changes at the store. She runs a great shop where the people (and their drinks) are well known among the baristas. As a matter of fact, as I talked with Tanya about the new refrigerator, Kim (one of my favorite baristas) had my drink made before I even asked. How cool is that?

So I paid and headed to a table and noticed my friend Don perusing a Sun-Times. We had a 15 minute conversation on politics, TV news, the President, Iraq, terrorism, the next election, and good books among other things. Don spends a lot of time reading in Starbucks and is always well versed on a number of interesting current events and issues. Makes for great conversation, and a better friendship.

After finishing our discussion I moved to an outside table to enjoy my drink and read a little in a beautiful and rare cool July evening. I grabbed my Wired magazine and flipped through the pages a bit before seeing my Albanian friend Arben. Arben and I have been talking World Cup soccer lately, so we spent some time discussing the championship game played on Sunday. Then we talked about our different faiths (Christianity and Islam) which led to a discussion on a couple of hot news items. As we talked another Albanian friend showed up, Valder. The three of us talked until 9pm when I had to head home.

Tonight I figured I'd spend an hour or two reading over coffee, but instead I spent a couple of hours catching up with friends and sharing life together. It's helpful for me to remember that the beauty of the evenings of my life are not just beautiful because of the weather, but because of the company I'm blessed to keep.

In other words, I don't just love Woodstock. I love the people of Woodstock.

Grandma & Fortune Cookies

2006-06-27T11:14:00.000-05:00

Life has been hectic lately. I've been out of town a lot for business reasons, but last week we had to leave town for personal reasons. My Grandmother was dying.

Olive Kipfer was 94 years old and had a long, full life. She lived most of her life in my hometown of Pontiac, Illinois and that's where she died. We were able to leave Thursday in time to see her later in the day, though she was unconscious. We really wanted our kids to see her before she passed, not only to see her one more time but so that they would be able to begin to ask the hard questions about life.

She died very early Friday morning. Her wishes were to be buried as immediately as possible with family attending, and we did. I did the grave-side funeral service for them, and it was a sweet time together.

Then we were able to leave Pontiac and return to Woodstock in time for baseball on Saturday. After baseball we enjoyed a warm afternoon at Woodstock Water Works. It was good to get back to life in our city. But after experiencing the death of someone I loved very much, it's hard to get back to any sort of "normal" life.

This might be a good reminder for all of us to spend time soon with those who are nearing the end of life. Death should also be a helpful (though frightening) reminder that none of us know when the end will come for us, but there is no question that it is coming.

It has been said that life is a vapor like a mist that rises in the morning and disappears with the sun. In your short time, how will you live? Will you allow the reality of death to get you to ask the most important questions about life? That's what it has done to me.

Back to Woodstock...

We had a friend in town on Sunday and missed most of the Dick Tracy Days parade for some time with him over lunch. We got to the Square in time to see only a few things, mostly very loud fire trucks. One of the things we apparently weren't sad to miss is the rain. We saw several people soaked from rain, though it stopped by the time we arrived.

Whenever we miss a Woodstock city event we are bummed. There are few things we savor more in Woodstock than parades and events and people and enjoying the city. Don't take Woodstock for granted. Some smaller cities have similar events, but few do them as well as Woodstock.

Oh, and one last thing. My favorite parade item is always the candy. Yeah, I should grow up, I know. But with four kids we usually rake it in. After arriving late all we got were a few things a couple of friends at the parade were able to pick up and kindly share. One of them was a Perry Moy chocolate fortune cookie. I don't know Perry, but I know his cookies well. I love those things. Thanks Perry!

June Weekend

2006-06-19T14:08:00.000-05:00

Our two oldest boys played their first baseball games on Saturday and both did well. It was a beautiful day, very warm, and all the kids seemed to have a blast. I'm an official coach of the T-ball Astros (Elijah's team), and I also helped coach the Bittie Ball Blue Jays (Jack's team). I am really going to enjoy the baseball season.

Friday night and much of the day Saturday was the Woodstock Music Fest 2. I was able to hear a little bit Friday night an about 40 minutes worth on Saturday night. The crowd was very eclectic, from college students who are back home for the summer to parents and their small kids, and even a good deal of older adults. There was food, beer and margaritas for sale. I didn't take advantage since I couldn't spend a lot of time at the event, but it all looked inviting.

The bands were good, better than I expected. One band led with a sax. I know at least one band is from Woodstock, Tall Grass Magicians. I liked their music. Fun stuff. Honestly, all the bands were enjoyable and I'm surprised more Woodstockians don't make their way out to events like this, though it seemed fairly well attended.

One last thing, Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.

Coming Home

2006-06-16T11:42:00.000-05:00

I have been away for 6 days on a road trip to North Carolina for a conference. It was a great trip and I saw many old friends. But there is nothing like coming home. I missed my wife and four kids.

I expected to be home on early Friday morning, but we left a little early and I got home in time to take my two oldest boys to their first practices for baseball. I grew up with a great Dad who was always at my practices and games for every sport I played. I want to be that kind of Dad.

During Elijah's (5) practice I found out his team needed another coach. I had decided a few weeks ago that if the teams needed any more help that I would volunteer. So I let the coaches know I'm available and they jumped at the chance. I got my own hat and shirt as a coach of the Astros T-ball team and the proud father of a good little player. Jack's (7) practice was directly after Elijah's. I've been working with both kids for weeks (new gloves, bat, balls, and a big backyard) and they have really learned to love baseball. It should be a great season.

It's also going to be a great season because of all the great people we are getting to know: George, Jodi, Ray, Michael, Andrea, Marla, Pete, Brian and many others. Woodstock is a great place to live, and sport is a great way to get to know people in the community.

Well, the first games are Saturday (tomorrow) morning. I guess we should get out and practice.

Graduation

2006-06-05T12:18:00.000-05:00

I went to my first Woodstock High School graduation ceremony to see two young ladies graduate. I had the joy of bringing my daughter Sarah (9) to enjoy the afternoon with me.

A couple of observations...

1. I don't remember so many speeches when I graduated. Is that a Woodstock thing or have things just changed? Also, they were printed in the bulletin thing. That was pretty cool.

2. I was impressed with the amount of people there. I know there were a lot of graduates, but the turnout seemed huge to me. Great to see.

3. An ambulance came on the track right next to where the students were sitting as they were reading student names and handing out diplomas. I haven't heard, but my guess is that someone passed out from the heat. It wasn't a student, it was someone in the stands. I hope they are okay.

4. The weather was incredible. I had the clothes on that I preached in, including a short sleeve button-up shirt and tan-ish pants. We started off standing next to the announcer's building by the football field, but it kept the breeze off of us and made us really hot. At one point I got so overheated that I started sweating and was afraid that my pants would start sticking to my legs. So we moved locations. But not even the sweat and heat and sunburns could ruin the perfect graduation weather.

5. You can't watch a graduation without remembering your own. The year after my high school graduation was the year when I made the most mistakes, when I did the most stupid and silly things of my life. It was also one of the most important and transformative years of my life.

I know that among the Class of 2006 there will be some colossal and painful mistakes made in the next year. But I also know for some this is bound to be one of the most important years of learning and growth in their lives. As a community, we need to pray for our graduates.

Internet Connections

2006-06-01T17:34:00.000-05:00

I'm online a lot. I have TMobile wi-fi at Starbucks, access wi-fi on my laptop at the Public Library, and wi-fi at my house. For me the Internet is an important tool for study, networking with other pastors, and a hundred other things.

So when the Internet connects me to local folks, it's a bonus. Through my online photography I was able to meet Toni. I've met her in person a number of times since she is often online in Starbucks too, but only briefly. Now both of our Woodstock pictures are online in the same place. How cool is that?

Toni is a freelance writer and also has a website, Travels with Toni. Worth checking out.

While I'm at it, someone I met when I first moved to Woodstock is Darin Sakas. He runs (President and Publisher) WaterFowler.com through a Woodstock Square office. I have never fired a weapon (except spit wads) and I'm not fond of eating duck, but Darin is a great guy anyway. :)

Horizontal & Vertical

2006-05-29T22:55:00.000-05:00

Sometimes life gets so busy, so hectic, so frustrating and demanding that we only see horizontally. Sometimes we only see the people around us, or the stuff we have to do, or the appointments and plans of the day. One of the lessons I've learned is that as often as possible I need to look vertically.

Tonight was one of those nights where living in Woodstock, IL was not just about driving to get somewhere horizontally, but also vertically. Noticing a coming storm (that never really made it all the way to Woodstock, but got close), I grabbed my camera and headed for an out-of-the-way place just West of the city and looked up. It was beautiful. See all my pictures of the night here, but here is my favorite...

Memorial Day Weekend

2006-05-27T14:53:00.000-05:00

Wow. Spectacular beginning to Memorial Day Weekend. (As always, click on pictures for larger versions.)

I played catch with my two oldest boys this morning, as I do most days. We are preparing for baseball season in the weeks ahead. Every time one of us dropped a ball it got soaked with dew, but it was a great time. They are working on ground balls right now and every day of practice finds them much better.

I got some work done today at Starbucks (as a pastor I work most of the day on Saturday and take Monday off) and saw Jennifer Kohnke who was displaying some of her drawings. They are fantastic. Starbucks in Woodstock has been displaying them for several months and you should check them out.

Also on the Square was the farmer's market, which always has some good stuff. Today was a special treat as a couple of painters were capturing the Old Court House and the farmer's market scene. I was able to photograph both of them and talk briefly with Mort Luby. Beautiful paintings. A joy to watch someone create a scene and work colors on canvas.

Then I went to Woodstock Water Works for a bit to watch the kiddos swim. It was packed on this their first day open of the year, and rightly so as it's in the mid-80's.

Get out and enjoy Woodstock this Memorial Day Weekend.

Spring

2006-05-25T22:21:00.000-05:00

I love Spring. Today was one of those days where the temps were comfortable, the skies broke open with downpours every so often, and it just felt good to be alive.

I also got caught walking a long way to my car today while running errands and ended up soaking wet. It was frustrating until I realized that getting wet was a childhood pastime and I should enjoy it. How quickly life passes us by, and I'm only 33!

Just as the sun was setting I got outside with my kids and took a few pictures. What a gorgeous evening full of ripe green leaves and pink clouds, warm air and the sound of birds. I just wiped off a lawn chair so I can go out in the dark and breathe in the late evening. When you get a chance, I hope you can do the same.

You can click on the pictures for larger versions.

Fair Diddley '06

2006-05-23T19:27:00.000-05:00

After morning worship at my church, we took the kiddos downtown for Fair Diddley. We even had visitors at Calvary just because of the Fair. (Click the pictures for a larger version.)

The weather was spectacular, the crowd was big, the booths were full of...well...Fair Diddleyish stuff, and there was plenty to eat. We ate Kiwanis hot dogs, kettle corn, roasted corn at the V.F.W., and sno-cones. But we didn't buy anything, though the selection was good. We really liked some outdoorsy folding chairs, but couldn't afford them. It was just a great time in our fair city to get out and enjoy the day with locals and visitors alike.

We have yet to find an event on the Square that hasn't been enjoyable to some extent. It should be a great summer in Woodstock.

A Beautiful Evening

2006-05-20T23:52:00.000-05:00

I have a home office, but I often work at the Woodstock Starbucks for a change of scenery (and for a grande skim no whip extra hot mocha). Tonight, in preparation for our church services in the morning, I was working at Starbucks. But before returning home (about 9:30pm) I decided to take a stroll around the Square. The weather was so beautiful with temps in the mid 60's. Fine for short sleeves.

Passing La Petite Creperie I noticed my friend Joe and his wife Sue. They invited me over to their outside table around a beautiful fire pit. Two other couples were there as well, including one of the owners and his wife. We sat around the fire and talked until 11:30pm. We talked about movies and food, kids and weather. It was a beautiful time.

I grabbed a photograph of the old Woodstock court house on the way to my car in an off-square parking lot.

Welcome

2006-05-20T12:34:00.000-05:00

I created this site to share my experiences of living in Woodstock, IL and to encourage a love for our city. If you are a resident or visitor of Woodstock, I hope you will comment on these posts and share more about your experience of Woodstock.

This isn't a news site, a place to advertise business or events, or a place for me to speak my mind on any number of local issues. This site will say nothing of politics or complain about problems. We all have enough places in our lives to do that. This site is a place to reflect on what's praiseworthy and beautiful about our city.

And please, if you find this site helpful, pass it on to other residents of Woodstock. You are also encouraged to share your thoughts on things you want to encourage others to experience (art, music, food, drink, fun, family or whatever).

I hope you enjoy your day in Woodstock, IL.